Court-appointed panel says state must pay more for Bronx, city school funding

A court-appointed panel told Albany lawmakers the state must pay out billions more in education funding for Bronx and city schools Tuesday.

Currently, the state provides $5.85 billion to city schools. The panel recommended the state increase its spending a total of $14.1 billion over the next four years to Bronx and city schools. The panel also recommended the state provide another $9.17 billion for capital improvements from 2005-2010.

The group making the recommendations was hand-picked by a judge last summer after legislators failed to meet a deadline for coming up with a new funding arrangement. The lawmakers were mandated to make a deal after the Campaign for Fiscal Equity won its lawsuit against the state, accusing them of not giving city schools enough cash.

The findings are not set in stone yet. The panels recommendations will go before a judge sometime next week. He will then decide whether to implement them.